JOE looks ahead to the weekend’s football and hurling games in the National League, and sounds a note of caution about the Dublin midfield.
By Ciaran Brennan
Well it’s a lot of scores against isn’t it. In three games in this year’s National League the Dublin senior inter-county footballers have conceded two goals and 42 points. And if Cork had brought their shooting boots to Croke Park a few weeks ago it would be some more.
It’s a Kerry birthright to produce catchers and kickers of the highest quality.
If not quite rabbits in headlights territory, it’s still a cause of concern for Pat Gilroy and he has said as much. But y’know, the focus of his concern is not, as some might think, the performance of his defenders. Rather it’s the defending of the team as a whole and the worrying concession of possession in the middle third.
Middle ground
Even against the very best midfield combinations in the country, Kerry will always do well here – it’s a Kerry birthright to produce catchers and kickers of the highest quality. And the giants upon whom Conor Counihan can call, make it very difficult for any opposition versus Cork.
But, Dublin’s abdication against these two, in the midfield sector, under the Croke Park lights, was there for all to see and cannot continue if they have any aspirations toward silverware this year.
However, a quick scan of the Dubs line-ups for these games may produce some crumbs of comfort for their supporters. Only five or six of the starting fifteen were championship regulars last year. And with the Kilmacud boys filtering back after their club odyssey, and a few more post-injury returnees, Dublin will feel that they will only get better as the year progresses.
With a three from three strike rate so far, things are looking not bad at all for Giller and company as they travel to Monaghan this weekend.
Rematch
The big football game this weekend of course is the Cork versus Down clash in the Munster capital. Expect the sparks to fly here, a re-run of last September’s All-Ireland final. Down travel south defending an unbeaten stat so far, and with Cork just behind them in the league table it’s bound to be a keenly contested encounter.
Home advantage may be the deciding factor in this one and Down’s thirst for revenge may have to wait for another time – but it should be very close.
In hurling, Anthony Daly’s happy band of stickmen travel to Wexford in the unusual position of being red hot favourites to take the points. Many are the best laid Dublin plans that have been laid bare in Wexford! But given Dublin’s impressively steely performances in the league to date they might just have enough to edge the Wexford men, who themselves put in a fine show against Kilkenny last time out.
Elsewhere, Waterford and Cork should produce a cracker, likewise Galway versus Kilkenny, but Tipperary should have too much for visitors Offaly.
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